Future Historians Compete at Juniata\'s History Day District Competition

(Posted April 7, 2004)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Past events are the medium through which future historians battle it out this week at Juniata College as students from 16 middle and high schools throughout central Pennsylvania competed Wednesday, April 7 in the 19th annual District History Day, held at Juniata College in Huntingdon.

First- through third-place finishers were announced in two divisions ? the junior division for students in grades six through eight and the senior division for students in grades nine through 12. This year?s History Day finals will be held in May 12-13 at Penn State University with the national competition planned for June 13-17 in College Park, Md. at the University of Maryland.

Students can compete in any of seven categories: Historical paper (1,500-2,500 words, individuals only); individual exhibit (displays containing maps, charts, models and more); group exhibits; individual performance (such as short plays or interpretive readings); group performance; documentaries; and group documentaries. The theme of this year?s competition was ?Exploration, Encounter, Exchange in History.?

Participating schools are: Bedford Area Middle School; The Delta Program; Huntingdon Area High School; Huntingdon Area Middle School; Indian Valley High School; Indian Valley Middle School; Lewistown Area Middle School; Lewistown Area High School; Mount Nittany Middle School; Park Forest Middle School; Selinsgrove Area High School; Southern Huntingdon County High School; State College Area High School; Strodes Milles Middle School; Tyrone Area High School; and Tyrone Area Middle School.
Juniata College students served as judges at Wednesday?s District History Day. The top finishers in each category are attached. Awards were presented in Alumni Hall in the Brumbaugh Science Center.

The Local History senior division prize was awarded to the group exhibit in the senior division, ?A World of Their Own,? freshmen, Amber Nace, Riane Shempry, Jessica Yorks, Lewistown Area High School. The local history junior division prize went to ?Exploration Encounter, Exchange: A Cultural Rendezvous Between Native Pennsylvanians and Moravians,? individual documentary, Emily Browne, 6th grade, Mount Nittany Middle School.